Why does Paul say, "I press toward the mark" if it is all done by grace? A profession of faith in Christ alone does not require any pressing toward a mark.

Most believers mean well and would agree we should be following the Lord Jesus. But the spiritual pressures that bear on us daily are not affected very much by our good intentions. It requires a truly desperate earnestness and determination if we are to overcome the world, the flesh, and the devil.

The concept that grace is an unconditional, continuing pardon of our sins does not encourage a desperately earnest discipleship. Rather, it invites us to live in the world according to our fleshly lusts and then promises us Paradise when we die.

It easily can be seen that such an approach cannot bring into physical reality the vision of restoration. The conventional interpretation of Divine grace assents vaguely to the idea of a "new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness." But it postpones the creation of the new personality, which is the most important aspect of salvation, to the future.

The overemphasis on grace does not produce the Church without spot or wrinkle. It assumes God will perform the work of transformation instantaneously, somehow, somewhere—or maybe never in actual substance. Some have taught that Christ will shower "grace" (whatever that means) on us eternally because we always will be worthy of nothing more than Hell. Only He is worthy and we are doomed to be unworthy sinners forever. We never actually will be in Christ's moral image. Such a picture of the future can be gained readily from current theology.

The misapplication of Paul's doctrine of grace has resulted in perpetually immature believers who have little understanding of what it means to grow in grace.

When the most hardened of sinners comes to the Lord Jesus Christ he is received warmly and unconditionally, if he truly has repented.

Let us think about repentance for just a minute.

Repentance is not being given enough emphasis by today's evangelists. "Slip up your hand, acknowledge Christ as your Savior, and you are ready for Heaven."

What if the prodigal son returned to his home followed by the pigs, carrying a bundle of husks on his shoulder with a bottle of whiskey in his hand, and said to his father, "Where's the party?"

So it is in today's "conversions to Christ." After all, the son came "home" didn't he?

If the sinner truly repents he is received warmly and unconditionally by the Lord Jesus. Jesus spreads His own robe of righteousness on the newly born child of God. He now has been received in Christ. This is the grace of forgiveness and it is one of the foundations of the new covenant.

Remember, no work of restoration has occurred as yet (except the necessary turning of the person's heart toward God). Rather it now is possible for the work of restoration of personality to begin.

From this point forward the convert is obliged to abide in Christ. Abiding in Christ is a new challenge every day, for the Lord keeps leading the believer in the steps of restoration. This is how we grow in grace. We cannot grow in forgiveness. We grow in the moral image of Christ.

To be continued.